John William Spranger

Rear-Admiral John William Spranger (d. 1822) was a Royal Navy officer active during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.

He was appointed Lieutenant on 23rd August 1790, and Commander on 7th June 1794."Commissioned Sea Officers of the Royal Navy 1660-1815", vol. 3. ed. David Syrett] In 1795, he commanded the sloop HMS "Rattlesnake" in the expedition to capture Cape Town. He commanded a battalion of sailors from the fleet at the Battle of Muizenberg ["Naval History of Great Britain", [http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_History/Vol_I/P_300.html vol.1 p.300] ] , and was mentioned in both the Army and Navy despatches from this engagement. [Despatches of Major-General Craig, September 21, 1795. Printed in "The Times", November 25, 1795] [ Despatches of Admiral Elphinstone, September 23, 1795. Printed in "The Times", November 25, 1795]

He was later recorded as a captain with seniority from 1795, suggesting his appointment to post was made after this engagement ["The Universal Scots almanack, for the year 1800". Robert Allan, Edinburgh. 1800. [http://www.generalist.org.uk/docs/navy1800.html Online extract] ] ; it is certainly known that the promotion of Temple Hardy, the commander of the other sloop at the Cape, was made the day before the despatches were published.

On the 2nd December 1796, in command of the frigate "Crescent", he led a squadron which destroyed a French settlement in Madagascar and captured five merchant vessels. [Despatches of Rear-Admiral Pringle, January 15, 1797. Printed in "The Times", April 5, 1797] In 1799 he briefly commanded the "Stately" (64) before she became a troopship [ [http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/S2.HTM Sailing ships of the Royal Navy, S2] ] , and in 1801 took command of the newly-commissioned frigate "Aeolus", serving in the Baltic and then to the West Indies. [ [http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/A1.HTM Sailing ships of the Royal Navy, A1] ]

In May 1805 he was in command of the frigate "Amethyst", cruising off the Texel [ [http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Navy_List_1805/Ship_Duties/Cruising.html HM Ships employed on crusing duty - May 1805] ] , and from the records of one of his crew, it appears he was appointed to the command of "Warrior", a 74-gun third-rate, with effect from 12th July 1806. [http://www.barnettresearch.freeserve.co.uk/navaloffsurv.htm Survey of the career of Frederick Franks] ] . "Warrior" served first in the Channel squadron and then later in the Mediterranean.

Whilst commanding "Warrior" in the Mediterranean in 1809, he led the naval portion of the force which captured the Ionian Islands. ["Naval History of Great Britain", [http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval_History/Vol_V/P_146.html vol.5 p.146] ] After "Warrior" had returned to Chatham for repairs in 1811 [ [http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/V-Z.HTM Sailing ships of the Royal Navy, V] ] , he was given command of "Barham" (74) in 1812, again operating off the Texel. [ [http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/B1.htm Sailing ships of the Royal Navy, B1] ]

On June 4th 1814 he was appointed Rear-Admiral of the Blue. He died on February 9th 1822, at Albany in Picadilly. ["The Gentleman's Magazine", January 1822 p.284] His will was proven on May 2nd 1822, giving his final residence as Pinner in Middlesex. ["Will of John William Spranger, Rear Admiral in His Majesty's Navy" at the National Archives, catalogue reference PROB 11/1657]

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